President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to former Belfast Telegraph owner and The Ireland Funds founder Tony O’Reilly, who died on Saturday at the age of 88.
A former Irish rugby international who became a media magnate, Mr O’Reilly passed away in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin following a short illness.
President Higgins described him as “a man of great personal charm”, who “used that gift for delivering a number of significant philanthropic initiatives”.
On the impact of The Ireland Funds to causes on both sides of the border, he said: “The leadership he gave in that action was at a time when Ireland needed to draw on all of the contacts and friends that it had.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris also described Mr O’Reilly as a “trailblazer”, while Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he had an “extraordinary impact on Irish business, sport, media and society”.
Born in Dublin in 1936, Mr O’Reilly made his international debut for Ireland in rugby in 1955 and soon became the youngest player to be selected for the Lions.
He played in two Lions tours and still holds the record for the most tries scored.
In his business career, the Dubliner helped develop Kerrygold, turning it into one of the Republic’s most successful consumer brands.
He turned down a senior government post from Jack Lynch to join Heinz, where he built an international business reputation and became the first person outside the Heinz family to chair the global food operation.
In 1973 he bought into Independent News & Media (INM), which acquired the Belfast Telegraph in 2000. His northern media interests also included the Sunday Life and Sunday World newspapers.
He stepped down as chief executive of INM in 2009.
Tributes have also been paid to Mr O’Reilly’s philanthropy.
He set up The Ireland Funds with Dan Rooney at the height of The Troubles in 1976, which has raised $650 million for causes on both sides of the border.
Dan Rooney, who was president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, died in 2017.
The fund they established continues to support many cross-community projects.
In a statement, Mr O’Reilly’s family said: “In the coming days there will be many worthy tributes made to Tony O’Reilly’s unique and extraordinary achievements in the fields of business and sport.
“As well as to his extraordinary philanthropic vision which was best evidenced by the establishment of the Ireland Funds at a dark time in this island’s history.
“But, for us, he was a dearly-loved dad and a granddad.
“He lived one of the great lives and we were fortunate to spend time with him in recent weeks as that great life drew to a close.”
In a statement, The Ireland Funds said: “When he helped establish The Ireland Funds with Dan Rooney in 1976 at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, his insight and love for the island created an organization that today has gone on to support thousands of non-profit organizations.
“Countless lives have been improved and the extent of Tony’s philanthropic reach may never be fully known.
“The greatest tribute we can offer is to continue the work he began almost fifty years ago.
“We thank Tony for his vision, his charismatic leadership, his service, and his commitment to our mission.
“His memory will live on in the legacy and impactful philanthropy of The Ireland Funds.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the O’Reilly family now and in the days to come.”
